Originally Posted By: JCCinOhioConsidering one of these.. some Newb questions, past experiences with NVGs is I got to play with a military PVS-14 in Korea, and have a beginner version ATN weapon mounted scope that Isn't much use past 50 yards. Planned use is pig/coyote hunting up to 200 yards. So questions are:
1) If you have a helmet mounted NVG on left eye, can you look through an EOTECH (I have the 517) and separate 3x magnifier with the right eye and be able to see dot on target, say at 200yds? (I know not to mount the PVS-14 behind the 517)
While you can see partially, it's very difficult to shoot this way with a cheek weld as the PVS will get in the way. In a pinch we train others to shoot this way for 25m and in by basically chest welding the rifle by looking straight down the optic, directly behind it. As mentioned this is only used for very short range and may cause POA/POI issues due to how eye dominant your eye's are from one another. The very best way to use a 14 is to keep it on your head and use a IR laser on the gun. Keep your head up, shoulder your weapon and let your IR laser do all the work. Very easy to get 150-200 yard hits on a 14" steel plate.
2) Or, if using an IR laser, what do you use for magnification for precise shots at distance?
We don't. If you need distance you can weapon mount your PVS-14
http://tnvc.com/shop/tnvc-tm14-pvs-14-weapon-mount/ with a PVS-14 3x magnifier screwed into the lens of the PVS-14
http://tnvc.com/shop/usgi-3x-magnifier-for-pvs-14/. Note, you will need a RDS that has NV compatibility. The EO 517 does not and you could burn a reticle image onto your 14 as the reticle brightness is too bright even at the lowest setting.
Side question:
3) I've had problems in the past with pigs seeing the red eye of my old crappy illuminator staring at them, what do you do to minimize this?
All IR LED's emit a faint red glow, some more than others. With our Torch Pro (we do not have much red Vis signature vs. the competition due to how deeply recessed our emitter is), but you can get a IR filter to block out a bit more Vis. glow but you do sacrifice distance.
Hi JCC, good questions. Answers in red above. Thank you.